Lessons
Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Double Attacks

Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Double Attacks

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Can you spot every double attack opportunity?

GM Patrick Wolff, a two-time US Champion, is back with another series of educational tactics! A "double attack" occurs when two pieces make two attacks at the same time. The difference between a fork and a double attack is that a fork is one piece attacking two things at the same time, while a double attack is two pieces making two attacks at the same time. Start winning with double attacks today!

Here is what you will learn:

  • How to set up double attacks!
  • How to avoid double attacks!
  • How to destroy opponents with the double attack!

Lesson 1

Here is a pretty basic position to illustrate a very common theme. How can white attack two things at once with deadly effect?
2 Challenges

Lesson 2

Here's another typical theme that's important to recognize. Where is the double attack here?
3 Challenges

Lesson 3

Here's an interesting case where it's not really a double attack, it's a discovered attack that sets up a double attack. Confused? Just look for a way to win material using the fianchettoed Bishop!
2 Challenges

Lesson 4

White's last move was to play Bg5. This is a terrible mistake! (White should have played Nf3.) How can Black punish White's carelessness?
3 Challenges

Lesson 5

White has an amazing way to create two threats at once. Do you see how?
3 Challenges

Lesson 6

This position is from a famous game. Clearly the fact that the Rook lies behind the Bishop suggests Black might be able to set up a double attack.
2 Challenges

Lesson 7

Black just moved the Bishop from d5 to g2, forking the Rook on f1 and the pawn on h3. What did Black overlook?
3 Challenges

Lesson 8

Here's another very standard position to be familiar with. Black has just captured a pawn on d5, thinking that White has left it undefended. But White saw further. What continuation did White see in this position?
3 Challenges

Lesson 9

Do you see the double attack latent in this position?
3 Challenges

Lesson 10

Black has an extra pawn, but white has a very pretty win using a double attack. Do you see it?
4 Challenges

Lesson 11

The lineup of White's Queen and Bishop is very suggestive of a double attack. And White's pieces are quite close to Black's King. Can you put these factors together?
9 Challenges

Lesson 12

Here is a very important theme to be familiar with. By all rights, White should have much the better position, with more space and more active pieces.
4 Challenges

Lesson 13

This position demonstrates a very important theme to be familiar with when the Bishop is hidden behind the Knight like White's Bishop on g2. Do you see a double (or discovered) attack?
4 Challenges

Lesson 14

In this sharp position, it might look at first that White's chances are at least as good as Black's. But there is a sneaky way to set up a double attack that gives Black a way to win. Can you find it?
3 Challenges

Lesson 15

This is a position from one of my games. Unfortunately, I was playing Black! Can you see the Double/Discovered Attack that I missed?
2 Challenges

Lesson 16

Black's position looks good, doesn't it? Good development, good control of the center -- what could be wrong? But there is a double attack hidden in this position.
3 Challenges

Lesson 17

Here is the kind of simple pattern it's essential to know by heart. Black has just played the Queen from d8 to d7, thinking the game is equal. It was until that last move...
2 Challenges

Lesson 18

Here's an exercise that uses double attack to demonstrate a useful pattern for attacking the King. How could White possibly create two threats with one move?
2 Challenges

Lesson 19

White uses an important and typical theme to create two simultaneous attacks: one against the Queen, and one against the King.
2 Challenges

Lesson 20

Here the double attack is subtly hidden. Yet after just three powerful moves, Black is forced to give up a minor piece for nothing.
4 Challenges

Lesson 21

Here is another example where the double attack is somewhat subtle. And once again it involves setting up a Queen maneuver.
4 Challenges

Lesson 22

The fact that the Rooks are set up against each other along the a-file suggests that perhaps there is a chance to combine that attack with another attack. But how? It takes some imagination to see it. Can you?
3 Challenges

Lesson 23

White has a very subtle way to set up a double attack. It's hard to see, and takes a couple of moves to set up, but it's all forced. Can you find it?
4 Challenges

Lesson 24

It appears that the Knight is pinned to the Queen, but in fact White has an amazing way to break the pin while creating two threats at once. Can you see how?
4 Challenges

Lesson 25

The poor position of Black's King in the corner allows White to create a pair of decisive threats in just two moves.
2 Challenges

Lesson 26

Bonus question: From what opening did this position arise? I'll give the answer at the final position. But for now it's your task to find Black's move.
3 Challenges

Lesson 27

This position arises in a famous opening trap. By a series of double attacks white can ultimately win material.
9 Challenges

Lesson 28

A very sharp position! No less than three pawns on the 7th rank.... But White's a1 rook is inactive and the queen is attacked. What should White play?
2 Challenges

Lesson 29

White has fallen behind in development and cannot castle owing to Black's bishop on a6 observing the f1 square.
2 Challenges

Champion Tactics with GM Wolff - Double Attacks

Tactics
29 Lessons
No Videos
96 Challenges
Released March 13, 2008

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